Connecticut's Only Spinal Cord Injury Unit for Adolescents Honored with Award

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a nationally-recognized long-term acute care hospital that specializes in the care of people with complex medical and intensive rehabilitation issues, is pleased to announce that Gaylord Hospital’s Adolescent Spinal Cord Injury Unit was recognized with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce’s “Health Care Program Award” at its 15th Annual Regional Healthcare Breakfast and Awards in Hamden.

Gaylord was among five institutions to receive the award which honors health care organizations who have encouraged wellness in their company or have developed cutting-edge technology or programs to advance healthcare.

“Gaylord is honored to receive this award,” said Gaylord Specialty Healthcare President and CEO George Kyriacou. “As the only program of its kind in Connecticut, we are committed to addressing the unique medical and social needs of our adolescent patients and help them return to their highest level of function and independence possible.”

Heather Hancort, RN, Gaylord Hospital Rehabilitation Nurse Manager, described how Gaylord’s award-winning spinal cord team recognized an opportunity to provide for the unique social and medical needs of their adolescent patients, a population she describes as “not pediatric, yet not quite adult.”

“Dealing with the aftermath of a life-altering trauma in a young person is not only an immensely stressful and emotional experience for the patient, but also for their family,” Hancort explained. “It was important to make sure that our hospital’s youngest patients could receive specialized care in a comfortable and socially enriched environment with the support of family nearby.”

From the colorful, cheery linens to the teen-friendly artwork adorning the walls, each patient room was designed to resemble more of a patient’s own bedroom than a hospital room. An adjoining suite is attached to each of the private hospital rooms allowing parents to stay free of charge for the duration of their child’s hospitalization. The family suites offer a variety of amenities including a private bathroom, an in-room mini fridge and available laundry pickup and delivery.

It’s a system, says Hancort, that “enables families to focus one-hundred percent of their energies on their adolescent’s recovery” while affording patients “privacy and autonomy when they want it.”

Hancort explained that much effort and thought was put into ensuring that teens remain as socially enriched as possible throughout their stay. “Each patient has free access to a tablet computer, a Netflix subscription and Wi-Fi so that they can stay connected with their friends and the outside world.”

At the heart of the unit is the Adolescent Game Room called “The Loft” where patients can meet with other patients and friends to watch movies on a big screen TV or play on the XBOX ONE gaming system which was specially modified with “sip and puff” technology so that gamers with limited or no use of their hands can play against their able-bodied peers. Special gaming chairs for visitors were purchased so that “patients don’t always have to look up to their friends. Instead, they are at the same eye level. That’s a huge impact to someone in a wheelchair.” The space is also equipped with an adaptive desk and schooling area that is available for any patient who would like to pursue private tutoring during their hospitalization.

Many of the unit’s patients request daily visits from Galya, the hospital’s on-staff working facility dog, and also enjoy visits from peer mentors (adolescent patients who have successfully been discharged from the unit) for support.

About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare:

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut is a not-for profit long-term 137 bed long-term acute care hospital that specializes in the care and treatment of people with complex medical and intensive rehabilitation issues. Gaylord also operates outpatient therapy centers in Wallingford, North Haven, and Cheshire. For latest news or more information go to their website at www.gaylord.org.